§ 46. Mr. Dribergasked the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with President Eisenhower on the questions of Malaya and Indo-China.
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 2nd February to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. H. Morrison), to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. DribergCan the right hon. Gentleman at least say whether he was consulted before the reference to Malaya was included in President Eisenhower's recent speech, and would he give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will not be a party to the imposition in advance of any conditions likely to prejudice any forthcoming peace talks?
§ The Prime MinisterThat supplementary is a very much more formidable question that the original Question upon which it is based. All I said on the last occasion, to which I referred the hon. Gentleman in my answer, was that I would not make any statement of any kind on the conversations which I had in the United States.
§ Mr. H. Morrison rose—
§ Mr. DribergWith great respect, is the Prime Minister not aware that since that occasion President Eisenhower has made this very important statement, including references to Malaya? May we, therefore, not ask him whether he was consulted about that specific reference to a matter of Commonwealth importance?
§ The Prime MinisterDid the right hon. Gentleman wish to ask me a question?
§ Mr. MorrisonNo.
§ The Prime MinisterI rise to congratulate the right hon. Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. H. Morrison) on the progress he is making below the Gangway, by the courtesy with which he permitted his hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) to—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."] I have forgotten what the hon. Gentleman asked.
§ Mr. DribergThe Prime Minister referred us back to his previous answer in February. I was asking him if he was aware that, since that answer was given, President Eisenhower has made this important speech containing specific allusions to Malaya—a matter of British Commonwealth interest and responsibility. May I ask him whether, since his talks earlier in the year, he has been consulted about that specific allusion?
§ The Prime MinisterWe are to have a debate on foreign affairs some time in the near future. I have very considerable contact with the United States, which I should have thought would be desirable, but I am sure that it would spoil it if, every time I was asked about this or that, I gave a definite answer. It would be a mistake. I am not going to vitiate any contacts I have by giving definite answers on this point, and I think that the more they think about it the more hon. Members opposite will consider that this is wise. There will be a debate on foreign affairs in the next week or two. These matters can be much more easily and flexibly dealt with than by Question and answer.
§ Mr. MorrisonI am sorry that the Prime Minister was so shocked that there should be peace on earth and good will among men on this side of the House that it caused him to forget what was the supplementary question asked by my hon. Friend. My supplementary question is on a separate matter, and that is why I waited. Has the Prime Minister any information to give about the recent Communist military advance in Indo-China?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, I have not. I have watched it with great anxiety but I have no special information on the subject. If a Question is put down I will answer it myself or have it answered by a representative of the Ministry of Defence, who are the Department who have information on the many technical matters involved.
§ Mr. ShinwellDid I understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply to a previous supplementary question that during the contemplated foreign affairs debate he will reply specifically to the question which was asked about his conversation with General Eisenhower on the subject of Malaya?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I do not propose to give away private conversations. I think that might ruin this convenient medium of interchange between our two countries, but I will argue at length the question whether I ought to or not.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn so far as those private conversations have a bearing on the foreign policy exercised by the right hon. Gentleman—in which the House is obviously interested, as is the country— surely he could impart some information, could he not?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that what the House has a right to demand is a clear statement of what is the policy of the Government on any particular issue.